1. (1) A certified counselor or a certified adviser shall complete 36 credit hours of continuing education courses every two years.
2. (2) At least six hours of the 36 credit hours must be in law and professional ethics related to counseling.

3. (3) At least once every six years a certified counselor or a certified adviser must complete three hours of training in suicide assessment, including screening and referral, as specified in WAC 246-810-0298.

   1. (a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, the initial suicide assessment training must be completed during the first full continuing education reporting period after initial certification.

   2. (b) An individual applying for initial certification as a certified counselor or a certified adviser may delay completion of the first required training for six years after initial certification if they can demonstrate successful completion of a three-hour training in suicide assessment, screening, and referral that:

      1. (i) Was completed no more than six years prior to the application for initial certification; and
      2. (ii) Meets the requirements listed in WAC 246-810-0298.
   3. (c) The hours spent completing training in suicide assessment count towards the total 36 hours of continuing education.
4. (4) At least once every four years, a certified counselor or certified adviser must complete two hours of health equity training as specified in WAC 246-810-0299.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.19.050, 18.19.090, 18.19.020, 2021 c 170, 2023 c 425, and 2024 c 371. WSR 25-06-010, s 246-810-027, filed 2/20/25, effective 7/1/25. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.19.050, 18.19.100, and 43.70.613. WSR 23-23-033, § 246-810-027, filed 11/3/23, effective 1/1/24. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.442(7). WSR 14-09-102, § 246-810-027, filed 4/22/14, effective 4/22/14. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.19.050 and chapter 18.19 RCW. WSR 09-15-041, § 246-810-027, filed 7/8/09, effective 7/8/09.]